The Role of Exercise in the Treatment and Management of Eating Disorders

This study explored health professionals' opinions on incorporating exercise into eating disorder (ED) treatment, given the low success rates of current methods and the common issue of exercise abuse among those with EDs. Through semi-structured interviews with 13 international experts, four main themes emerged: 1) changing historical negative views on exercise in ED treatment, 2) a gap in research and fear of integrating exercise, 3) barriers like negative attitudes and funding, alongside benefits such as improved physical and psycho-social health, and 4) the need for personalized, supportive exercise prescriptions. The findings provided a foundation for understanding the complexities of using exercise in ED treatment and offered recommendations for future research and practice.